Reports of traffic accidents and stranded motorists flooded in to Lubbock first responders Thursday as heavy rains submerged much of Lubbock and the region.
Lubbock firefighters responded to 55 calls and had 13 swift- or high-water rescues between noon and 4 p.m. — when upward of 3 inches fell in Lubbock.

High water could hinder drivers on some South Plains roadways Thursday morning after severe thunderstorms dumped heavy rain and hail on the area.
And the chance for additional rainfall and severe thunderstorms remains at least 50 percent through Thursday evening in Lubbock and the South Plains.
Radar estimated upward of six inches of rain fell along some portions of Interstate 27 between Abernathy and Hale Center in Hale County, according to the National Weather Service in Lubbock. Water over roads was expected to be a problem through Thursday morning.

Rob Weiner recalled seeing Larry “Bud” Melman — the stage name of early David Letterman sidekick Calvin DeForest — perform in Lubbock’s former Lindsey Theater during Letterman’s early years on late night at NBC in the ’80s.
Weiner, reflecting on Letterman’s legacy as the 68-year-old comedian retires from late-night television this week, recalled his excitement experiencing even a part of what he said would become a staple in American pop culture.

An Oklahoma woman’s request for a protective order against state Sen. Charles Perry has been dismissed, according to a spokesman for the Lubbock Republican.
Earlier this month, Cynthia Ortiz accused Perry of stalking and threatening to harm her, according to court documents filed last week in Creek County, Oklahoma, near Tulsa.
Jordan Berry, authorized by Perry’s attorney to speak on behalf of Perry, said Tuesday that the request was dismissed.
Berry said the dismissal came as no surprise.

Jose Simental was in a Brazoria County prison when he was served Thursday with an arrest warrant in the homicide of a missing Lubbock teen.
Simental’s prison sentence stems from an unrelated crime he committed just months after he’s accused of killing Mark Ysasaga soon after the teen’s disappearance June 14, 2012.
Simental, 20. is serving a seven-year sentence at the Clemens Prison Unit, according to a statement by Lubbock police, and police served him the arrest warrant in person Thursday morning.

Parker Weber, a 17-year-old boy, died after his car crossed the I-27 median and collided with a tractor-trailer truck causing a fiery crash crash Saturday evening that shut down the highway for hours.
The car was so badly damaged it took hours to determine if there were one or two people inside.
The crash happened before 7 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the freeway near 50th Street.

Officers closed all lanes of traffic for more than three hours on the interstate

Parker Weber, a 17-year-old boy, died after his car crossed the I-27 median and collided with a tractor-trailer truck causing a fiery crash crash Saturday evening that shut down the highway for hours.
The car was so badly damaged it took hours to determine if there were one or two people inside.
The crash happened before 7 p.m. in the southbound lanes of the freeway near 50th Street.

Tons and tons of harvest lentil soup are getting closer to filling Lubbock’s care package for Nepal.
Lubbock’s Breedlove Foods will send at least one shipping container with nearly 1 million servings of dehydrated food to Nepal to assist in earthquake relief.
But first, workers with the Lubbock-based non-profit disaster relief organization are getting it ready.
Crews spent much of Monday and will work into Tuesday preparing and packaging the dry soup mix for the long journey to South Asia, either by ship or by plane.

Part of U.S. 87 was reopened late Tuesday afternoon in Lynn County, though high water from flooding still covers all lanes, according to TxDOT.
The road is closed south of Tahoka at the Dawson County line and travel on the highway is "highly discouraged."
Meanwhile, many of the Lubbock roads closed due to heavy flooding Monday night were open Tuesday morning, but as more rain fell, reports of more vehicles being stuck or stalling are being called into the Lubbock Police Department, police say.

Residents have a chance to help through a donation drive at area United stores

Lubbock’s Breedlove Foods will send at least one shipping container with nearly one million servings of dehydrated food to Nepal to assist in earthquake relief.
And area residents have a chance to help through a donation drive at area United stores.
Breedlove, a Lubbock-based nonprofit, will send a 40-foot shipping container of Harvest Lentil soup blend amounting to 1,190 cases, or about 950,000 servings of food, with plans to send more at a later date, said David R. Hankins, Breedlove’s director of marketing and public relations.